Tuesday, September 16, 2014

What is PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome)?

PCOS, or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, is a common endocrine disorder that affects one in ten women. It is often mistaken for a reproductive disorder, but it isn't. In fact, while most women have polycystic ovaries, not all women with PCOS do. Also, there are women with polycystic ovaries that do not have PCOS. That's why there is a huge push to change the name of PCOS, because it is a misnomer. While 5% to 10% of women have PCOS, they are often misdiagnosed, or told to go to a psychiatrist for their physical and depressive issues. Women are often not taken as seriously as men in the field of medicine, in fact there are some doctors who still diagnose women with "hysteria," a bogus diagnosis that means the doctor doesn't care about his patients enough to diagnose them with their real problem. Only women had "hysteria." The diagnosis of hysteria was most commonly used in Victorian times, and was cured by an involuntary hysterectomy, or by a doctor massaging a woman's genitles until she has an orgasm, dubbed a "hysterical paroxysm." Another way to cure hysteria was for the doctor to spray a high power cold water jet onto her genitalia, or he'd use a vibrator, aka "massager," on the woman to give her an orgasm. These "cures" would be considered sexual assault today, in Western countries. But, I digress.

Normal Ovary vs Polycystic Ovary

The diagnosis criteria are not agreed upon, and right now there are three different diagnostic classification systems: the NIH Criteria, the Rotterdam Criteria, and the Androgen Excess and PCOS Society Criteria.

The NIH Criteria, created in 1990, means a woman must have all of the following symptoms for a diagnosis of PCOS.
1) oligoovulation, meaning infrequent or irregular ovulation.
2) signs of the male hormone androgen in excess (clinical or biochemical)
3) exclusion of other disorders that can result in menstrual irregularity and hyperandrogenism (androgen excess)

The Rotterdam Criteria was established in 2003, and a woman needs to have at least two of the following three criteria:
1) oligoovulation and/or anovulation (infrequent or irregular ovulation and/or no ovulation)
2) excess androgen activity
3) polycystic ovaries (by gynecologic ultrasound)
4) Other entities are excluded that would cause these.

To meet the Androgen Excess PCOS Society, in 2006, came up with criteria in which a woman has to have every symptom to make the diagnosis of PCOS:
1) excess androgen activity
2) oligoovulation/anovulation and/or polycystic ovaries
3) exclusion of other entities that would cause excess androgen activity

Polycystic Ovary vs Normal Ovary

This doesn't mean that these are the only symptoms of PCOS. PCOS is a complex syndrome with no clear cause. Here is a list of some of the more common PCOS symptoms:

Acanthosis nigricans (patches of skin on the neck, arms, breasts, or thighs that are thick and dark brown or black)

Skin tags (excess flaps of skin in the armpits or neck area

Pelvic pain

Anxiety

Depression

Sleep apnea

Preeclampsia during pregnancy (pregnancy induced high blood pressure)

Gestational diabetes

Decrease in breast size

Deeper voice

Repeat miscarriages

Enlargement of the clitoris

Normal Ovary vs Polycystic Ovary

As you can see, PCOS causes a myriad of symptoms. Some women's lives are greatly affected by it, while for others it's just a nuisance. While we wait for both for doctors to reach a conclusion about the cause of PCOS, we also wait for the cure.

The Disillusioned Agnostic

Mama Sick

Me (Amy B)

DH (Darling Husband)

Former college instructor, incredibly intelligent, sexy as hell, great singer, loves to kiss kitties, beadworker, hippie, a voice that makes my knees weak, and a much better speller than I am. You are the love of my life, my best friend, my partner, and part of my soul.

My Best Friend, My Togy

(January 17th, 1994 - Spring 2012) You will be in my heart, as long as I breathe, and beyond. You have always shown me unconditional love, and never thought less of me when we shared secrets. You were my favorite and best friend, my protector, my turtle chaser, my sweet boy with a bark that was music to my ears. I miss you so bad.

Sterling

(January 1998 - July 1, 2014) I love you so much, and though you left this earthly form on July 1st, 2014, you will always, always be my son, my friend, my kitty, and my baby. I miss you every single day, every single moment.

Niki

You're the sweetest girl in the world, and my heart is always happier with you in my arms. I couldn't love you more, sweetheart, if you were my flesh and blood daughter. Niki, Mommy loves you so, so much, my kitty bear.

Katya

You're a little bad ass yet cuddly kitty, with a huge heart, and fangs that like to chomp fingers when you play. Mommy loves you so much honey, you and Niki are the cuddliest, cutest, sweetest, loving kitties in the world. You're our baby kitty bunny.